Coop opinions

[Greaner_pastures]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out.

Thank you.

 

[Greaner_pastures]

How about this one? I’ll grab some wood and redo the run completely but I made a trade with someone and was able to snag this for my four hens!

 

[3KillerBs]

How about this one? I’ll grab some wood and redo the run completely but I made a trade with someone and was able to snag this for my four hens!

MUCH better ventilation than usually found in a small coop.

What are the measurements, not counting the nestboxes?

For 4 hens you want at least 16 square feet, especially in a climate that gets a long, snowy winter. But if it's small and you have a generous-sized roofed run that you can wrap in plastic for winter you can fudge that.

 

[Greaner_pastures]

MUCH better ventilation than usually found in a small coop.

What are the measurements, not counting the nestboxes?

For 4 hens you want at least 16 square feet, especially in a climate that gets a long, snowy winter. But if it's small and you have a generous-sized roofed run that you can wrap in plastic for winter you can fudge that.

I think it’s about 4-5 feet wide roughly not sure on exact measurements but going to grab it tomorrow. I was going to remake the same size run I have now which is 7’x 7’x 5’ but I was now wondering should I try to fully enclose the coop IN the run or just attach the run to the coop like I currently did.

 

[3KillerBs]

I think it’s about 4-5 feet wide roughly not sure on exact measurements but going to grab it tomorrow. I was going to remake the same size run I have now which is 7’x 7’x 5’ but I was now wondering should I try to fully enclose the coop IN the run or just attach the run to the coop like I currently did.

Once you get it home and get the measurements you can make the decision.

If you make it so that you've got the coop and a roofed run functioning as a unit so that the birds never have to stay in the coop only due to bad weather you'll want a total of about 56 square feet or more (not counting nestboxes).

This article gives a more nuanced look at chickens' space needs than the basic 4 square feet in the coop/10 square feet in the run guidelines: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

 

[Greaner_pastures]

Once you get it home and get the measurements you can make the decision.

If you make it so that you've got the coop and a roofed run functioning as a unit so that the birds never have to stay in the coop only due to bad weather you'll want a total of about 56 square feet or more (not counting nestboxes).

This article gives a more nuanced look at chickens' space needs than the basic 4 square feet in the coop/10 square feet in the run guidelines: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

Appreciate that. Just gave the article a read and like you said once I get it home and get exact measurements I can make that final choice. I’m going to go with a fully roofed run. I think just by estimating that the coop is made for 6 birds originally and the size of my run I should be ok as far as space. I’ve been stressed a bit but I’m glad I found BYC and glad I posted my shed coop on here, I had my doubts and worries mainly about ventilation cause it is not tall. Just wanna make sure I give my birds as comfortable of a time as possible.

 

[aart]

I think just by estimating that the coop is made for 6 birds originally

Weeelll, that would depend on what guidelines they used to come up with "6 birds".

 

[Greaner_pastures]

Weeelll, that would depend on what guidelines they used to come up with "6 birds".

This is very true, but I know and trust her pretty well and on top of that she is a wildlife rehab specialist so im just assuming when she says six birds she has a idea of what proper spacing for birds is. But obviously I shall know in the morning when I go get it. I am currently trying to redesign my run and come up with a cut/parts list to get a Idea of cost.

 

[Greaner_pastures]

Ok so we got the coop today, its close to 14 sqft (roost boxes not included) inside. My thinking here now for the run is get some 4x9 pallets and then do a 2x4 ground contact board for the base all the way around. 2x4x6 on front corners with 2x4x5 on the back for pitch, Treated plywood roof with shingles and a gutter to catch the rain and then hardware cloth around the base skirted out to prevent digging. As far as sealing up the gaps between the boards on the pallet, would plywood be ok with hardware cloth nearer to top for ventilation?

 

[Greaner_pastures]